Martin Dyckman, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Martin DyckmanAugust 12, 2015

Our next president may well owe the office to arrogant billionaires or be one himself. Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that fewer than 400 families account for nearly half the $388-million already invested in that election still more than a year away. Did America shed blood to be rid of monarchy only to have […]

Martin DyckmanAugust 11, 2015

Our next president may well owe the office to arrogant billionaires or be one himself. Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that fewer than 400 families account for nearly half the $388-million already invested in that election still more than a year away. Did America shed blood to be rid of monarchy only to have […]

Martin DyckmanAugust 4, 2015

America’s doctors have long since made their peace with Medicare, which marked its 50th anniversary last week, but its oldest and most implacable enemy, the ideological right wing, is still bent on destroying it. If you were a politician who shared that purpose, how might you go about it? You’d harp on how the trust […]

Martin DyckmanJuly 28, 2015

There hasn’t been a presidential candidate as fat-headed, obnoxious and unqualified as Donald Trump. Yet more Republicans seem to favor him than any of the others. That says as much about them as about him. H. L. Mencken, who coined the term “booboisie” for voters with similar tastes, had an explanation for such phenomena. “I […]

Martin DyckmanJuly 20, 2015

None of the nine U.S. Supreme Court justices has ever had the gut-wrenching experience of looking another person in the face to say, “I sentence you to die.” They have passed on or passed up hundreds of capital appeals, but that’s far removed from having to impose a death sentence at trial. “It’s hard to […]

Martin DyckmanJuly 20, 2015

None of the nine U.S. Supreme Court justices has ever had the gut-wrenching experience of looking another person in the face to say, “I sentence you to die.” They have passed on or passed up hundreds of capital appeals, but that’s far removed from having to impose a death sentence at trial. “It’s hard to […]

Martin DyckmanJuly 13, 2015

While thinning files last week, I came across one labeled “Crist” and wondered whether to dump it. After successive losses for the U.S. Senate and for governor again, hadn’t Charlie reached the end of the line? No, I thought, something will happen to bring him back. The next day, something did. It was the Florida […]

Martin DyckmanJuly 13, 2015

While thinning files last week, I came across one labeled “Crist” and wondered whether to dump it. After successive losses for the U.S. Senate and for governor again, hadn’t Charlie reached the end of the line? No, I thought, something will happen to bring him back. The next day, something did. It was the Florida […]

Martin DyckmanJuly 7, 2015

It is amusing, in a wry sort of way, to witness the tantrums and hear the gnashing of teeth in right-wing circles over the several big cases they have just lost at the U.S. Supreme Court. Spare them no sympathy. You might think that losing has become more than they can bear. But in fact, […]

Martin DyckmanJuly 1, 2015

Those who flaunt the Confederate flag insist that it symbolizes “heritage,” not hate. Call it what they will, but that heritage is a heritage of hate. The slave owners and their politicians fancied themselves good, decent, God-fearing people. How could they square that with the countless hideous brutalities they inflicted on their human chattels? They […]

Martin Dyckman
Uloma Ekpete Kama. Image via campaign site.

Martin Dyckman: Winner-take-all winner could be Donald Trump

Martin Dyckman: Winner-take-all winner could be Donald Trump

Martin Dyckman: Right wing should stop its nonsense about Medicare

Martin Dyckman: Does Donald Trump rising portend GOP fall?

Martin Dyckman: Looming narrow point of law could clear death row

Martin Dyckman: Looming narrow point of law could clear death row

The irony of how redistricting has resurrected Charlie Crist

Martin Dyckman: Redistricting irony: The resurrection of Charlie Crist

Martin Dyckman: Supreme Court more often goes astray

Martin Dyckman: The time is now to take it down